Carton for tetrahedral packages

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to cartons for packaging a plurality of individual tetrahedral articles in such a manner as to protect the articles from damage during shipment and rough handling. The carton is provided with individual compartments which conform generally to the shape of the tetrahedral articles intended to be packaged and which serve to restrain the tetrahedral articles against relative movement. The carton closure flaps are further provided with wedge-shaped walls which are adapted, upon closure of the flaps, to press against a side of each tetrahedral article packaged within the carton thereby forming a tight package.

United States Patent {72] Inventors Fred B. Shaw l-llnsdale; Florren E. Long, La Grange, both 01,111. [21] Appl. No. 804,633 [22] Filed Mar. 5, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 10, 1971 [73] Assignee Continental Can Company, Inc.

New York, N.Y.

[54] CARTON FOR TETRAHEDRAL PACKAGES 10 Claims, 8 Drawing Fig.

[52] U.S.Cl 229/15, 206/65 T. 220/21, 229/25, 229/29 M [51 Int. Cl 865d 1/36, 865d 81/16, 865d 85/30 [501 Field 01 Search 206/65 T, 46 FC; 229/25, 29 M, 15; 220/21 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,865,268 6/1932 Morris ..229/39(B)UX 2,919,800 1/1960 Jarund 206/65 (T) FOREIGN PATENTS 1.526.525 4/1968 France 206/65 (T) 916,761 8/1946 France 206/65 (T) 1,225,103 9/1966 Germany 229/25 Primary Examiner- Leonard Summer Attorney-Diner, Brown, Ramik and Holt ABSTRACT: This disclosure relates to cartons for packaging a plurality of individual tetrahedral articles in such a manner as to protect the articles from damage during shipment and rough handling. The carton is provided with individual compartments" which conform generally to the shape of the tetrahedral articles intended to be packaged and which serve to restrain the tetrahedral articles against relative movement. The carton closure flaps are further provided with wedgeshaped walls which are adapted, upon closure of the flaps, to press against a side of each tetrahedral article packaged within the carton thereby forming a tight package.

PATENIED AUG] 0197:

SHEET 1 0F 3 INVENTORS FRED Bsnnw G FLORREN E. LONG ATTORNEYS PATENIED AUB I 0 I971 sum 3 OF 3 ATTORNEYS CARTON FOR TETRAHEDRAL'PACKAGES I This invention relates to packaging and, more particularly,

' to packaging a plurality of individual tetrahedral articles in a carton in such a manner as to protect the articles from damage during shipment and rough handling.

In the art of packaging, it has become advantageous to supply certain powdered and liquid products such as juices, beverages, etc., as well as other food and nonfood products, to the ultimate consumer in an individual disposable tetrahedral shaped serving package. The package holds an average serving of the product, and can be readily disposed of when emptied of its contents.

The tetrahedral package can be conveniently made by a conventional form and fill machine which is adapted to form the package from a length of tubing, fill the package withthe product, and seal the ends of the tubing to complete the formation of the package. Each tetrahedral package has a transverse seal at one end in a first plane and a transverse seal at its other end in a second plane disposed at a 90 angle to the plane of the first transverse seal such that the package has four triangular sides, two of which have the first transverse seal as their base and the other two of which have the second transverse seal as their base.

The main advantage that tetrahedral packages have over the conventional flat pouches, is that they offer economy in that they employ fewer square inches of laminated sheet material tubing to contain a given volume of product. Moreover, placement of the end seals at right angles to each other gives the tetrahedral package a rigidity not attainable in the conventional pouches thereby providing the possibility of using an opened package as a dispenser that could be set down on a horizontal surface, when still partially filled, without the risk ofleakage.

Although tetrahedral packages present many advantages 'over the conventional flat pouches, they have not acquired widespread acceptance by packagers because. due totheir unique construction, they are readily susceptible to'damage, in transit,by similar packages with which they come into'contact.

Conventional pouches are relatively limp items even when filled, and tend to conform in shape to the space available to them, even to the extent of folding on themselves. Tetrahedral packages, on the other hand, are relatively rigid even when formed from lightweight laminates and become substantially rigid when formed from laminates containing paperboard. Ac cordingly, tetrahedral packages not only fail to change shape to conform to available space but they combine four relatively nonyielding flat surfaces which are accordingly easily penetrated by a pointed object. Furthermore, both ends of such packages are relatively rigid and are tapered to narrow, bladelike edges. Since each bladelike edge terminates in a sharp point at each side, each tetrahedral package has four pointed corners as well as four flat surfaces that are readily susceptible to perforation. Naturally, when a number of tetrahedral packages featuring these incompatible characteristics are placed in a carton, bag or shipping container of any type so that movement of the unit tetrahedral packages relative to one another is possible, the development of a high percentage of leakers during shipment has been experienced, due to the sharp points on the tetrahedral package ends striking a flat surface of another tetrahedral package in such a manner as to either cause a perforation of the flat surface or a bending andfracturing of the normally rigid point. I

Prior approaches to the solution of this problem have daily t aken'the approach of attempting to package a number bf 'tetif'ahedral articles into an intermediate container or shipping carton, one by one so as to fit them tightly together in a space filling mass and then hold them in such a position by appropriate wa dding, a tightly fitting cover or the like. This technique will'pre vertt relative motion between the individual tetrahedral"articiesas longas the ifiiter niediate contaiher or Haas-1. Y i v carton is not damaged or sprung, and/or as long as one or more of the unit package not withdrawn from the carton. However, any change inthe tight packing situation, either because the shipping carton is damaged or because anjindividual tetrahedral article. has been removed, ,will result in relative movement between the remainingtetrahedral articles with consequent damage and leakage. Moreover, to carefully package articles one by one requires a time consuming hand operation that few packagers are willing to accept.

Furthermore, even though tetrahedral articles may have been carefully hand packed to assure a tight space filling relationship so that they arrive in the retail outlet in satisfactory condition, they are still susceptible to damage due to subsequent handling after the shippingcarton is opened and the unit tetrahedral packages are thus exposed to.;i nspection and display. Damaging impact by the sharp points of the packages against the taut flat surfaces must be expected when a carton full of the tetrahedral packages is emptied onto a display. area, or when shoppers tumble the units about in making a selection or in returning a rejected selection.

i It is, therefor, an object of this invention to provide a carton ,lfor packaging a plurality of individual tetrahedral containers which will protect the tetrahedral containers against damage during shipment and subsequent handling. 'More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provi de a carton for packaging a plurality of individualtetrahedral articles wherein the carton is provided with means for restraining relative movement between tetrahedral articles packaged therein.

A further object of this invention isto providea carton having a plurality of individual compartments formed therein,

I each compartment conforming generally to thesize and shape "particularly adapted to snugly receive a"plurality of tetrahedral packages disposed in alternate'abutting' relatibnship therein, the carton having a pair of closure 'flaps' 'forrr'ied with inwardly folded ends which are adapted to snugly engage a side of each of the packages upon closure thereof.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature'of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claimed subject matter'and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings:

In the drawings: 5

H0. 1 is atop plan view of a carton formed in accordance with this invention and illustrates the carton having two closure flaps, one of the flaps being opened and theother flap being closed but partially broken away for clarity, and illustrates a plurality of individual individual compartments.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view ofa portion ofthe carton illustrated in'FlGfl and illustrates six package receivingcompartments. I

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 3-3 of tetrahedral packages received in FIG. 2 and illustrates the manner in which the closure flap pngages a side of the tetrahedral packages to form a rigid package.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of another carton formed in 'ac- 'cordance with this invention and illustrates a plurality of wedge-shaped members associated with each closure flap and each adapted to engage a separate tetrahedral article.

FlG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the carton illustrated in FIG. 4 and further illustrates the individual compartments each adaptedto receive a tetrahedralarticle and the'individualwedge -sh aped members formed on theinner surfaces ofthe closure 'F 16. 6 is an interrupted top plan view of yet another carton formed in accordance with this invention and illustrates a pin ',r'ality of tetrahedral articles disposed therein in alternate abutting relationship.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6 and illustrates an inwardly folded end ofone of the cloline 8-8 of FIG. 7 and illustrates the bottoms of the alternately disposed tetrahedral articles abutting one another to effect a tight closely packed package.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a carton, generally referred to by the numeral 10, in which is packaged a plurality of tetrahedral packages 11. Each tetrahedral package 11 includes four flat sides 12 and two per pendicularly disposed seams 13 and 14.

The carton which may be thermoformed from ther moplastic resins, such as foamed polystyrene, molded from paper pulp or the like, or formed from any other suitable material, includes'a base portion 15 and two closure flaps l6 and 17 pivotally connected to the base portion 15 at fold lines 18 and 19, respectively.

The base portion 15 includes an upper surface 20 having a plurality of depressions formed therein each defining a package-receiving compartment 21. The compartments 21 include a generally triangular bottom surface 22 sloping downwardly away from a flat shelf portion 23 of the surface 20, vertically disposed triangular walls 24 and 25 converging toward one another and opening into a generally vertically disposed pocket portion 26.

Each of the comp-."rtmcnts 21 thus conforms generally to the shapeofa tetrahedral package 11 intended to be received therein. The package 11 is inserted into the compartment 21 with one of its flat sides 12 supported by the triangular bottom wall 22, and its seams l3 and 14 received in the pocket 26 and supported on the shelf 23, respectively.

The base portion 15 further includes an upstanding central portion 27 having a groove 28 formed therein.

The closure flaps l6 and 17 include top walls 29, end walls 30 and 31, and sidewalls 32 and 33. A wedge-shaped wall member 34 is formed in the inner surface of each of the top walls 29 of the closure flaps 16 and 17. Each of the wedgeshaped wall members 34 includes a rectangular surface 35 which is inclined from a point closely adjacent the sidewall 32 to a point adjacent the sidewall 33. The wedge-shaped wall member 34 further includes a rectangular rear wall 36 disposed parallel to the sidewall 33 and triangular ends 37 disposed parallel to the end walls 30 and 31.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 3, the closure flaps 16 and 17 are closed by inserting the sidewalls 33 into the groove 28 of the upstanding portion 27. The sidewalls 33 will be wedgingly received in the groove 28 thereby completing the formation of a tight package with the rectangular surfaces 35 of the wedgeshaped walls 34 snugly engaging a side 12 of each of the packages 11 and thus securely restraining each package 11 within its respective compartment 21.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is illustrated another carton generally referred to by the numeral 40. The carton 40 includes a base portion and two closure flaps 46 and 47 hingedly connected to the base portion 45 by fold lines 48 and 49, respectively.

The base portion 45 includes an upper surface 60 having a plurality of depressions formed therein each defining a package-receiving compartment 51. The package-receiving compartmen tsfil each include a generally triangular bottom Each of the compartments 51 is adapted. to i eceive a tetrahedral package 11 with one of itsflat sides 1,2gsupported by the bottom wall 52 and its seams l3 and 14received'in the pocket 56 and supported by the flat shelf 53, respectively.

The base portion 45 also includes an upstanding central portion 57 having a groove 58 formed therein. The upstanding portion 57 and the groove serve as a locking device for the closure flaps 46 and 47 in. a manner to be hereinafter described.

Each of the closure flaps 46 and 47 includes a top wall 59, edge walls 60 and 61, and sidewalls 62 and 63. A plurality of individual wedge-shaped members 64 is provided in the inner surface of the top walls 59 of the closure flaps 46 and 47. Each wedge-shaped member 64 is aligned with a corresponding compartment 51 and includes a triangular surface 65 inclined from a point on the inner surface of its respective top wall 59 near the sidewall 62 to a point near the sidewall 63. Each wedge-shaped member 64 further includes a rectangular rear wall 66 disposed generally parallel to its corresponding sidewall 63, and two triangular edges 67, 68 which converge toward one another and meet at the apex of the triangular surface 65.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 5, after the packages 11 are received in the compartments 51 the closure flaps 46, 47 may be closed with their respective sidewalls 63 received within the groove 58 of the upstanding portion 57. The triangular surfaces 65 of each of the wedge-shaped members 64 will pressingly engage a side 12 of a tetrahedral package 11 thereby completing the formation ofa tight package.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 through 8, there is illustrated another carton formed in accordance with this invention and referred to generally by the numeral 70. The carton 70 which is fabricated from paperboard or similar sheet stock includes a main portion 71 and two closure flaps 72 and 73. The carton 70 is not formed with any individual articlereceiving compartments as are the cartons 10 and 40, but rather is of a size such that'a particular number of tetrahedral packages .74 disposed in alternate abutting relationship will be snugly received therein.

The closure flaps 72, 73 are formed with inwardly folded ends which are adapted to snugly engage a side of each of the packages 74 upon closure thereof. As is apparent from FIG. 7, when the closure flaps 72, 73 are closed, the inwardly folded ends 75 will form a V-shaped wall that will wedgingly engage the alternately disposed packages 74 contained within the carton 70.

Cartons formed in accordance with the foregoing description can be designed to hold any number of tetrahedral packages depending on their dimensions and can be sizedto encourage and prompt the sale of multiple units of the individual packages in the manner ofa six pack.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that there is provided a novel carton which is economical, easily loaded and can hold a group oftetrahedral packages in such a manner that no end-to-end contact between any packages is possible. The novel carton will promote the sale of products sold,in tetrahedral packages by facilitating the shipping, handling and dispensing thereof.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minor variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A carton for packaging a plurality of tetrahedral articles having opposite transversely disposed end seams comprising a plurality of individual compartment means for at least each partially housing one of the tetrahedral articles, said compartment means each having vertical pocket means for confining one seam of an associated article in generally upstanding relationship, said pocket means each merge with a bottom wall sloping in an upward direction away from said pocket means, each bottom wall being ofa generally triangular configuration with an apex thereof adjacent its associated pocket means, and each bottom wall remote from its pocket means merges with a top wall portion. defining shelf means for supporting the other seam of each associated article in transverse relationship to the one seam thereof.

2. The carton as defined in claim 1 wherein said compartment means is generally of a V-shaped configuration as viewed in top plan.

3. The carton as defined in claim 1 wherein said compartment means is generally ofa Y-shaped outline as viewed in top plan.

4. The carton as defined in claim 1 wherein said carton includes a body having a longitudinal center line, and said compartment means are disposed in transverse pairs with a compartment means of each pair being disposed on opposite sides of said longitudinal center line.

5. The carton as defined in claim 4 including a pair of closure flaps joined by hinge lines to said body at opposite sides of said longitudinal center line, and means along said longitudinal center line for confining sidewalls of said closure flaps in contiguous relationship.

6. The carton as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said closure flaps includes means for engaging a side of each tetrahedral article adapted to be carried in said compartment means.

7. A carton for packaging a plurality of tetrahedral articles having opposite transversely disposed end seams comprising a plurality of individual compartment means for at least partially housing one of the tetrahedral articles, said compartment means having pocket means for confining one seam of an associated article in generally upstanding relationship, shelf means opposite each pocket means for supporting the other seam of each associated article in transverse relationship to the one seam thereof, and said compartment means is generally ofa Y-shaped outline as viewed in top plan.

8. A carton for packaging a plurality of tetrahedral articles having opposite transverse y disposed end seams comprising a plurality of individual compartment means for at least partially housing one of the tetrahedral articles, said compartment means having pocket means for confining one seam of an associated article in generally upstanding relationship, shelf means opposite each pocket means for supporting the other seam of each associated article in transverse relationship to the one seam thereof, said carton includes a body having a longitudinal center line, said compartment means are disposed in transverse pairs with a compartment means of each pair being disposed on opposite sides of a longitudinal center line. a pair of closure flaps joined by hinge lines to said body at opposite sides of said longitudinal center line, and means along said longitudinal center line for confining sidewalls of said closure flaps in contiguous relationship.

9. The carton as defined in claim 8 wherein each of said closure flaps includes means for engaging a side of each tetrahedral article adapted to be carried in said compartment means.

10. A carton for packaging a plurality of tetrahedral articles having opposite transversely disposed end seams comprising means for restraining tetrahedral articles against relative movement with one of said end seams disposed in generally upstanding relationship, at least one closure flap associated with said carton, means associated with said at least one closure flap for engaging a side of each tetrahedral article adapted to be carried by said carton thereby forming a tight package upon closure of said at least said one flap, said engaging means is at least one wedge-shaped wall formed on the inner surface of said closure flap, and said at least one wall is formed integrally with said flap and extends substantially across the entire width thereof. 

1. A carton for packaging a plurality of tetrahedral articles having opposite transversely disposed end seams comprising a plurality of individual compartment means for at least each partially housing one of the tetrahedral articles, said compartment means each having vertical pocket means for confining one seam of an associated article in generally upstanding relationship, said pocket means each merge with a bottom wall sloping in an upward direction away from said pocket means, each bottom wall being of a generally triangular configuration with an apex thereof adjacent its associated pocket means, and each bottom wall remote from its pocket means merges with a top wall portion defining shelf means for supporting the other seam of each associated article in transverse relationship to the one seam thereof.
 2. The carton as defined in claim 1 wherein said compartment means is generally of a V-shaped configuration as viewed in top plan.
 3. The carton as defined in claim 1 wherein said compartment means is generally of a Y-shaped outline as viewed in top plan.
 4. The carton as defined in claim 1 wherein said carton includes a body having a longitudinal center line, and said compartment means are disposed in transverse pairs with a compartment means of each pair being disposed on opposite sides of said longitudinal center line.
 5. The carton as defined in claim 4 including a pair of closure flaps joined by hinge lines to said body at opposite sides of said longitudinal center line, and means along said longitudinal center line for confining sidewalls of said closure flaps in contiguous relationship.
 6. The carton as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said closure flaps includes means for engaging a side of each tetrahedral article adapted to be carried in said compartment means.
 7. A carton for packaging a plurality of tetrahedral articles having opposite transversely disposed end seams comprising a plurality of individual compartment means for at least partially housing one of the tetrahedral articles, said compartment means having pocket means for confining one seam of an associated article in generally upstanding relationship, shelf means opposite each pocket means for supporting the other seam of each associated article in transverse relationship to the one seam thereof, and said compartment means is generally of a Y-shaped outline as viewed in top plan.
 8. A carton for packaging a plurality of tetrahedral articles having opposite transversely disposed end seams comprising a plurality of individual compartment means for at least partially housing one of the tetrahedral articles, said compartment means having pocket means for confining one seam of an associated article in generally upstanding relationship, shelf means opposite each pocket means for supporting the other seam of each associated article in transverse relationship to the one seam thereof, said carton includes a body having a longitudinal center line, said compartment means are disposed in transverse pairs with a compartment means of each pair being disposed on opposite sides of a longitudinal center lIne, a pair of closure flaps joined by hinge lines to said body at opposite sides of said longitudinal center line, and means along said longitudinal center line for confining sidewalls of said closure flaps in contiguous relationship.
 9. The carton as defined in claim 8 wherein each of said closure flaps includes means for engaging a side of each tetrahedral article adapted to be carried in said compartment means.
 10. A carton for packaging a plurality of tetrahedral articles having opposite transversely disposed end seams comprising means for restraining tetrahedral articles against relative movement with one of said end seams disposed in generally upstanding relationship, at least one closure flap associated with said carton, means associated with said at least one closure flap for engaging a side of each tetrahedral article adapted to be carried by said carton thereby forming a tight package upon closure of said at least said one flap, said engaging means is at least one wedge-shaped wall formed on the inner surface of said closure flap, and said at least one wall is formed integrally with said flap and extends substantially across the entire width thereof. 